Portable motor driven dispensing devices



March 16, 1965 s. T. GlAvAsls PORTABLE MOTOR DRIVEN DISPENSING DEVICES Filed NOV. l5, 1962 INVENTOR STEVE T. GIAVAS IS BY A4-.2m

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,173,584 PORTABLE MTQR DRIVEN DISPENSING DEVICES Steve T. Giavasis, 233 W. Pine St., Long Beach, NY. Filed Nov. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 237,855 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-263) This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to dispensing devices of the type adapted to be employed in household use for dispensing of food products.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device that is compact in size, easily gripped in the hand for facile finger manipulation to cause the material contained in the device to be dispensed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device that, aside from being small and portable, is capable of being held in the palm of the hand in such fashion that one of the fingers of the hand is positioned adjacent actuating structure that will permit the operation of the device to dispense material therefrom.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device that does not need to be inverted or turned wrong-side up to dispense the material therefrom, but rather, by simple finger actuation can cause the material to be dispensed from a spout, to any desired location and in controlled amounts.

Other and further objects of this invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the dispensing device constructed in accordance with the teaching of the invention and with portions thereof broken away to more fully illustrate its details,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating another embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate still another embodiment.

Referring now to the drawing and in particular the embodiment shown in FiG. l, the dispensing device there shown is generally identified by the numeral 1h. Dispensing device comprises a material holding container 12 having a normally open top 14 that is provided about the periphery of its neck with a threaded surface 16'. The container 12 may assume any convenient shape, most preferably one that will enable it to be seated or rested at its bottom 18 on a table or other convenient surface Without tilting.

Adapted to be removably secured to the threaded necked surface 16 of the container 12 is a cap or cover 2i). The cap 20 is provided with a complementary neck 22 that is interiorly threaded to matingiy engage with the threaded surface 16 and thereby normally close the top of the container 12. The cap 2t) includes a material dispensing spout 24 that is connected in continuous cornmunication with a material guideway 216 that depends downwardly from the cap into the container 12. The guideway 26 may be molded integral with the remaining details of the cap 20 to form a unitary extension of the spout 24 or it may be separately connected to form an integral part of the cap 20 but in constant communication with the spout to guide material therealong to the spout and to be dispensed therefrom.

Also included in the details of the cap 20 is an air passage 28 in the form of a tube that extends downwardly therefrom and formed integral therewith to project into the material holding container 12 in the same manner as does the guideway 26. The air passage 28, like the guideway 26, is open at its lowerrnost end in the area ICC of the bottom of the container 12. The air passage 28 is interrupted along its length by an air conduit 30 that is connected with an orifice 32 through which atmospheric air is directed from about the cap 20 to the air passage 28. Included within the air passage 2S is a piston 3dthat is adapted to be reciprocated therein by an arm 36 pivotally connected to a crank 38 eccentrically mounted on a driven gear 49. The gear 4t) is idly mounted for rotation on a bracket 42 that is fixed in the molded portion of the cap 2G and that similarly supports an electric motor 44 having a driving gear 46.

Formed as an integral molded part' of the cap 20 is a handle 4S that extends downwardly from the cap along a facing side of the container 12. Immediately adjacent to and above the handle is a thumb actuated switch 50. The switch Sti is capable of being actuated t'o complete a circuit between a plurality of batteries 52 or other source of electrical energy conveniently mounted in the handle 48 and the motor 44 by closing a circuit between a connector 54 and a conductor 56.

In operation, any convenient household food or substance such as catsup, salt, sugar, mayonnaise or other liquid or granular material is rst poured into the container 12 through the open top 14 after the cap 20 has been threadedly removed therefrom. After the desired amount of material has been poured into the container 12, the cap 2@ with its attendant downwardly extending guideway 26 and air passage 23 is placed over the container 12 and such extending details inserted into the same and in the food product held therein. The cap 20 and container 12 are then relatively rotated to connect the same together thereby positioning the handle 4S alongside an adjacent portion of the container 12.

When it is desired to utilize the dispensing device 10, the handle 43 is grasped in the palm of the hand. The relationship of the handle relative to the remaining details of the cap and to the switch 5t) automatically positions the thumb such that it is able to reach the switch 50 without strain or unnecessary deflection or extension. Material is dispensed from the container 12 through the spout 2d by the application of light thumb pressure on the switch 5@ closing a circuit between the series connected batteries 52 and the rnotor 44. Thus, the linger actuation of the switch 5d causes the motor 44 to operate and thereby rotate its driving gear 46 and the idler gear 40.

During the rotation of the gear 40, the eccentrically positioned crank 38 lifts and lowers the arm 36 connected with the piston 34 to reciprocate the same Within the passageway 28. Each time the piston 34 reciprocates upwardly, it uncovers the air conduit 36, permitting atmospheric air to pass from the orifice 32, along the conduit 30 and into the air passage 28 beneath it. Thereafter, as the piston reciprocates downwardly, it forces the air therebeneath downwardly into the bottom of the container 12. This downward displacement of air into the container results in a consequent displacement of material from the container upwardly along the material guideway 26 and outwardly from the cap 20 through the dispensing spout 24. It will be recognized that the amount of material dispensed from the device 10 can be intricately controlled by the duration of finger actuation of the switch 50.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the embodiment of the dispensing device thereshown is generally identified by the numeral 100. Inasmuch as certain details of the dispensing device are substantially the same as those of the previously described dispensing device 10, such like details will bear the same tens digits as those included in the embodiment 10 except that they will be in the 100 series of numerals. This will obviate the able material feeding means134 and 158 form a part of ay shaft 160fthat is connected at its upper end to a driven gear 140. The. shaft`160 is guided for rotation `in an opening provided in a bracket 162 molded integral with the cap 120.

Positioned between the gear 140 and the bracket 162 is a spring 164` that constantly urges the gearl140 upwardly into engagement with a driving gear 146. The driving gear 146 is mounted to an operating meansin the form of an electrical motor 144 that is properly positioned within thecap 120 by a bracket 142. The operating means 144 is electrically energizedV by a finger actuated switch in the same manner as in the. previously described embodiment. The driven gear V'140 is providedAwith an undulating surface wherein certain of the gear teeth diametrically opposed from each other about the periphery of the gear 140 are higherV than certain other of the teeth on the same gear.

In practice, the handle 148 is grasped in the palm of the hand in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment thereby immediately positioning the thumb of the hand in actuatingY relationship with the actuator switch 150. During finger depression or actuation of the switch, the operable motor 144 is energized causing its driving gear 146 to rotate. The constantly engaged driven gear 140 is consequentlyrrotated also.

is normally urged upwardly into its ysolid line position as shown in the drawingby a yieldable means in the form of a spring 266. The-lower end ofthe spring 266 is mounted in the cap 220.Y

The opposite end of the lever -251V includes a finger actuated extension 250 that extends Vand.v projects beyond the cap V22) adjacent to the handle 248 land so positioned with respect to the same thatthe thumb of the hand grasping the handle is in positiontoI depress the lever 251 at 250. The opening in 4the cap 220 throughwhich the lever 251` projects provides communication between the interior of the cap andy the surroundingl atmosphere. An air conduit 230 is formed in the cap 220 alongside the rair passageway 228and has an orice 232 that communicates withfthe interior of the air passageway beneath, the piston 234 when thesame is in tion as shown in dash lines. j Theoperation of the instant embodiment-is substantially the same as that described with respectto FIG. 1. The yuser of the dispensing device Qman-ipulates the same by grasping the handle 248 in the palm of his hand thereby positioning hislthumb adjacent tothe finger acits raised posituator 25). Thereafter, by depressing the actuator 250 against thenofrmalurging of the spring 266,` the `teeth of Each 90 of rotation ofthe driven gear 140 brings its p progressively higherY and lower teeth into engagement with the driving gear 146 thereby not only rotating the materialV moving means 134' and 158 but also causing the same to jog or reciprocate slightly within the material guideway 126 as the material moves upwardly along the surface of the spiral 134 and is dispensed outwardly from.y the cap 120 at the dispensing spout 124.

The jogging or Yperiodic reciprocation of the rotating material` moving means 134 and 158 prevents such food products as sugar, salt and the like from sticking together and clogging the passageway-defined by the guideway 1.26. The jogging or reciprocation breaks up the granular materials even once the same have gathered or lumped together. Because the impellcr 158 is positioned below and beyond the lower end of the material guideway 126,'

it swiftly draws the material from about it and impels or throws the same upwardly to the screw 134 that thereafter forcefully moves and feeds the same to the dispensing spout 124. Y

The embodiment of the dispensing device shownin'l f FIG. 3 is generally identified by the numeral 24N). Each of the details of the device 280 are identified by numerals in the 200 series. The parts thereof corresponding to the like parts of the embodiment 10 and 160 include the same` tensV digits as in said prior embodiments-in order to show their vco-relationship.

The cap 220 is removably threaded on theV material holding container 212 in the same manner as previously' described'k so that its material guideway 226 formed/integral therewith extends downward into the material heldk in the container. The air passageway 228 is sirnilar to theV passageway 28 of the embodiment 10 and includes therein a piston 234. that is connected to. an arm 236 mounted,

on a crank-238 eccentrically rotatable with-aY disc 240.

The disc 248 rotates on a shaft 24S-and is operated: by a pinion 246. A segmental shaped gear V2.44 has lts. teeth in constant rotatable engagement with the gearl V246. The segmentally shaped gear 244' constitutes an extension of an atuatd lever' 251-'pivoted at 242. The lever same to be dispensed the )segmental gear 244 rotatively Vengage with the teeth of the pinion 246 causing the same to operateV and to move the disc 240, eccentrieally raising and lowering the crank 238 and the arm'236: This results in reciprocating the piston 234 between its dash line position whereinthe air orifice 232 is uncovered permitting` air to be communicated `t-o :the passage 228 beneath the piston, and subsebe understood that variousV omissions tand substitutions and changes in the lformjand details of the devices` illustrated and in their operations Vmaybe made by those'skilled in the art, vwithoutr departing fromthe spirit of the invention. Itis the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicatedby the scope of the'claims appended hereto.

I claim: l Y Y l. A dispensingdevice` comprisingthecombination of a cap having a handle, a material holding container, means removablyfconnecting said cap and container together, a material guideway depending downward from said cap into said container and having a dispensing spout integrally formed andV in communication therewith, rotatably movable meansY extending Yspirally downward from said cap Y into said container to cause material in said container to move upwardly spirally yalong saidl material guideway and 'to vbe dispensed therefrom through saidaspout, operable means in said cap connected with said movable means to rotatably move the same, .and finger actuated rnean-s adjacent said rhandle for actuation by the thumb of. the-'hand grasping -said handle, said finger actuated means being connected with said operable rmeansr to operate the same in response to its finger actuation. A Y

. 2. A v'dispensing device comprising the combination of. a vertically disposed container for holding material therein, said container havingan open threaded top, a cap ythreaded for removable engagementl with said container top, saidV cap having a materialguideway and dispensing spout-formed integr-al and in lcommunication with each other, said guideway extending'downwardvfrom said cap "into said container, .movablezmeans extendlng downward from said cap into said containerl and movable to cause material in said container toV move.V upwardly along said amasseguideway to said spout to dispense the material therefrom, and operable means including gear means in said cap and connected with said movable means to move the same in said container, means on said movable means to reciprocate and rotatably move the same in response to the operation `of said operable means.

3. A dispensing device comprising the combination of a cap having a handle, a material holding container, means removably connecting said cap and container together, a material guideway depending downward from said cap into said container and having a dispensingspout integrally formed and in communication therewith, rotatably movable means extending spirally downward from said cap into said container to cause material in said container to move upwardly Ispirally along said material guideway and to be dispensed therefrom through said spout, operable means in said cap connected with said movable means to rotatably move the same, land linger actuated means adjacent said handle for `actuation by the thumb of the hand grasping said handle, said finger .actuated means being connected with said operable means to operate the same in response to its nger actuation, said operable means being an electric circuit including an electric motor having gear means thereon, said movable means having gear means engageable with said motor gear means, said movable means being operable by said motor through said gear means to rotate and periodically reciprocate, and said finger actuated means being :a switch to electrically connect said motor in circuit with a source of electricity.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,331,017 2/20 Leumann 222--4-13 X 1,519,664 12/24 Campbell 222-413 1,778,589 10/3() Eerkes 222-413 X 2,453,974 11/48 Colaluca Z22-413 X 2,796,204 6/57 Math 222-324 2O LOUS 5. DBMBO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPENING DEVICE COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A CAP HAVING A HANDLE, A MATERIAL HOLDING CONTAINER, MEANS REMOVABLY CONNECTING SAID CAP AND CONTAINER TOGETHER, A MATERIAL GUIDEWAY DEPENDING DOWNWARD FROM SAID CAP INTO SAID CONTAINER AND HAVING A DISPENSING SPOUT INTEGRALLY FORMED AND IN COMMUNICATION THEREWITH, ROTATABLY MOVABLE MEANS EXTENDING SPIRALLY DOWNWARD FROMS SAID CAP INTO SAID CONTAINER TO CAUSE MATERIAL IN SAID CONTAINER TO MOVE UPWARDLY SPIRALLY ALONG SAID MATERIAL GUIDEWAY AND TO BE DISPENSED THEREFROM THROUGH SAID SPOUT, OPERABLE MEANS IN SAID CAP CONNECTED WITH SAID MOVABLE MEANS TO ROTATABLY MOVE THE SAME, AND FINGER ACTUATED MEANS ADJACENT SAID HANDLE FOR ACTUATION BY THE THUMB OF THE HAND GRASPING SAID HANDLE, SAID FINER ACTUATED MEANS BEING CONNECTED WITH SAID OPERABLE MEANS TO OPERATE THE SAME IN RESPONSE TO ITS FINGER ACTUATION. 